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MANILA, Philippines — The female teacher tagged in the death of a Grade 5 pupil is not on preventive suspension. At least, not at this time.
Instead, she is on official leave.
DepEd deputy spokesperson Francis Bringas made the distinction on Wednesday.
He said the department has not yet filed a formal administrative charge against the teacher.
“Well, hindi pa tayo pwedeng mag-preventive suspension dahil hindi pa tayo nakakapagbigay ng formal charge,” Bringas said over radio DWPM (formerly DZMM).
(We cannot order a preventive suspension yet because we have not yet given a formal charge.)
“Makakapagbigay lang si regional director ng preventive suspension kapag nakapag-issue ng formal charge,” he explained.
(The regional director can only order a preventive suspension after a formal charge has been issued.)
“And that is happening only after a prima facie evidence or case has been found after the fact-finding investigation,” he said.
Bringas reiterated the teacher was just on official leave.
“On leave muna sya (she is on leave) but not on preventive suspension,” he clarified.
READ: ‘Teacher tagged in fatal slapping of Antipolo pupil on official leave’
Antipolo city police station Officer in Charge Ryan Manongdo said authorities had already obtained statements from two witnesses, who are minors, on what happened to the pupil.
“Una po ay kinwelyuhan. Tapos, hinawakan ang buhok. Tapos, yun nga po, dinapuan ng kamay yung mukha, somewhere at the right portion ng mukha,” Manongdo said over radio DWPM, citing witnesses’ accounts.
(First, he was pulled by the collar and then the hair. Next, the teacher’s hand made contact with the child’s face on the right side.)
The incident occurred on September 20.
After the incident, the 14-year-old student complained of dizziness, headache, and vomiting, leading to hospital confinement on September 26.
He slipped into a coma and died on October 2.
Manongdo said police have not established if the teacher’s act caused the boy’s death.
“It will be determined in the medico-legal, the abstract report, and the autopsy report,” he said.
Nevertheless, even at this investigation stage, the teacher can already be charged with violating Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
Manongdo said this is because the teacher’s physical acts against the student have been proven.
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